The Study On Female Characters In Samuel Barber's Opera "Vanessa"

As one of the third-generation American professional musicians,such as William schumann and Bernstein,Samuel barber enjoys a high reputation in the American music industry and worldwide,and is known as the most famous musician of the 20 th century and the poet of music.Some say he is a "new romantic",some say he is a "conservative",others say he is a "eclectic".He has created a lot of instrumental music and vocal music in his life,and the criticism of his works is controversial,but it does not affect him as one of the most important composers in the United States.In 1958,the big three-act opera,"Vanessa",which barber finished in 1958,was premiered at the Metropolitan Opera house in the United States,praised as the "best American opera ever staged by the metropolitan theatre" and won the Pulitzer prize for "the best American opera ever staged in the metropolitan theatre".Therefore,Vanessa is of considerable research value in studying Samuel barber and his style.This paper,based on the work of Samuel barber's "Vanessa",first elaborates the life experience of barber.Secondly,it describes the background of the work.Next,we explore and discuss the development connotation of the whole opera with the characters music of two female characters.In the end,the author summarizes the music features observed in the works as a summary of barber's neo-romantic style.Hope that this article research results to Samuel barber complement professional music field and even the United States,make broad music researchers and enthusiasts can be more comprehensive to understand and study the composer.It is also hoped that the excellent opera works will return to the public's eyes once again,so that the excellent works will not be covered by dust.